Power cut hits sheriff court

Glasgow Sheriff Court was plunged into darkness

A power failure at Scotland's busiest sheriff court caused severe disruption to legal proceedings, with some trials having to be postponed.

Glasgow Sheriff Court was plunged into darkness two hours before the start of the day's business.

Buses taking prisoners to court had to be sent back because the barriers controlling entry were affected by the power cut.

Witnesses and some accused, who were queueing outside in the rain, were told to return in the afternoon.

Staff including sheriffs, clerks and police had to leave the darkened building and technicians tried to restore power in the system including the back up generator which also failed to function.

The black out means scores of cases including jury trials and civil actions will have to be given new dates which will add to an already congested list of cases waiting to be dealt with.